In the 1950s there was no research activity dealing with organic farming at public institutes. This was true not only for Germany, but for most of the countries in the world. However, biodynamic farmers and consultants were looking for help and solutions for several problems they were faced with. Naturally, an own institute was needed. This was the impetus for establishing the Institute for Biodynamic Research (IBDF) in November 1950. It was founded as a privately maintained non-profit institution, incorporated as an association under german law. As the first active institution in its field in Europe, if not worldwide, it has been conducting research into organic agriculture for more than five decades.



Today the IBDF employs some 20 members of staff, 8 of whom are scientific researchers. Trainees, undergraduates and PhD students in agriculture and other related fields are temporarily at the IBDF